Cartridge case

Abstract

A cartridge case includes a case body, a shaft portion, a first support portion, a second support portion, and a switching member. The shaft portion includes a shaft support portion and engages with an end portion of an elastic member. The shaft portion is configured to be moved by an energizing force of the elastic member. The switching member is configured to switch a position of the second support portion between an operating position and a released position. The operating position is a position where the second support portion and the first support portion hold the shaft support portion between the second support portion and the first support portion. The released position is a position where the second support portion has moved away from the shaft support portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge case comprising:
 a case body provided with a bottom wall, a support portion, and a pair of side walls, the bottom wall being configured to support a liquid-holding container containing a liquid, the bottom wall having a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of the bottom wall, the support portion being provided in the first end portion and configured to support a hollow vent plug provided in the liquid-holding container, and the pair of the side walls facing one another from opposite sides of the bottom wall; 
 a shaft portion extending in a first direction, the first direction being the direction in which the pair of the side walls face one another, the shaft portion including a shaft support portion and engaging with an end portion on a second direction side of an elastic member, the second direction being a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion and orthogonal to the first direction, the shaft support portion being coaxial with the shaft portion and projecting toward the pair of the side walls, the elastic member extending in the second direction and being energized to generate a restorative force in a third direction, the third direction being the opposite direction from the second direction, and the shaft portion being configured to be moved in the third direction by an energizing force of the elastic member; 
 a first support portion provided on at least one of the pair of the side walls, the first support portion extending in the second direction and being configured to support the shaft support portion; 
 a second support portion provided on the opposite side of the shaft support portion from the first support portion, the second support portion and the first support portion being configured to hold the shaft support portion between the second support portion and the first support portion; and 
 a switching member having the second support portion, the switching member being configured to switch a position of the second support portion between an operating position and a released position, the operating position being a position where the second support portion and the first support portion hold the shaft support portion between the second support portion and the first support portion, and the released position being a position where the second support portion has moved away from the shaft support portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge case according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the switching member includes 
 a movable body arrayed in the first direction in relation to at least one of the pair of the side walls, the movable body being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being a position where the second support portion moves to the operating position, and the second position being a position where the second support portion moves to the released position, 
 an energizing member configured to hold the movable body in the first position by energizing the movable body, and 
 a projecting portion configured to project from the case body through an opening formed in the case body in a case where the movable body is in the first position. 
 
     
     
       3. The cartridge case according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the movable body moves from the first position to the second position against the energizing force of the energizing member in a case where the projecting portion is pressed. 
 
     
     
       4. The cartridge case according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the movable body includes a slide opening, the slide opening being an opening extending in the second direction, 
 the shaft support portion is configured to move in the second direction inside the slide opening, and 
 the second support portion is provided on a target edge portion among the edge portions forming the slide opening, the target edge portion being opposite the shaft support portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The cartridge case according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a case cover having a top wall, the top wall being opposite the bottom wall; and 
 wherein 
 the target edge portion is on the top wall side of the slide opening. 
 
     
     
       6. The cartridge case according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the edge portions forming the slide opening including a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion, the first edge portion being on the top wall side and the second direction end of the slide opening, the second edge portion being on the top wall side and the third direction end of the slide opening, the third edge portion being on the top wall side of the slide opening and located between the first edge portion and the second edge portion, the first edge portion and the second edge portion being closer to the top wall than is the third edge portion, and 
 the target edge portion is the third edge portion. 
 
     
     
       7. The cartridge case according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the energizing member is a flat spring, 
 the case body includes a first spring engagement portion, the first spring engagement portion being provided in the bottom wall and configured to engage with a first part of the energizing member, and 
 the movable body includes a second spring engagement portion, the second spring engagement portion being configured to engage with a second part of the energizing member. 
 
     
     
       8. The cartridge case according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first part is in the central portion of the energizing member in the first direction, and 
 the second part is in the end portion of the energizing member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The cartridge case according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the energizing force by which the energizing member energizes the movable body is less than the weight of the cartridge case. 
 
     
     
       10. The cartridge case according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a case cover configured to slide in the second direction and the third direction in relation to the case body; 
 a projecting member provided in the case cover and projecting toward the movable body; and 
 an engagement portion provided in the movable body, the engagement portion being a portion configured to engage with the projecting member, 
 wherein 
 the engagement portion is in contact with the projecting member in a case where the movable body is in the first position, the engagement portion contacted by the projecting member being configured to restrict the sliding of the case cover in the second direction and the third direction, and 
 the engagement portion is separated from the projecting member in a case where the movable body is in the second position, the engagement portion separated from the projecting member being configured to allow the sliding of the case cover in the second direction and the third direction. 
 
     
     
       11. The cartridge case according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a case cover configured to slide between a starting position and an ending position in the second direction and the third direction in relation to the case body; and 
 a projecting member provided in the case cover and projecting toward the movable body, 
 wherein 
 the projecting member, in a case where the case cover is in a position between the starting position and the ending position, supports the second support portion being in the released position, and 
 the projecting member is separated from the second support portion in a case where the case cover is in one of the starting position and the ending position. 
 
     
     
       12. The cartridge case according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shaft support portion is a gear, and 
 the first support portion is a rack, the rack having a plurality of teeth along the second direction, the plurality of teeth being configured to engage with the shaft support portion. 
 
     
     
       13. The cartridge case according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shaft support portion is a gear, and 
 the second support portion is a rack, the rack having a plurality of teeth along the second direction, the plurality of teeth being configured to engage with the shaft support portion. 
 
     
     
       14. A cartridge case comprising:
 a case body provided with a bottom wall, a support portion, and a pair of side walls, the bottom wall being configured to support a liquid-holding container containing a liquid, the bottom wall having a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of the bottom wall, the support portion being provided in the first end portion and configured to support a hollow vent plug provided in the liquid-holding container, and the pair of the side walls facing one another from opposite sides of the bottom wall; 
 a shaft portion extending in a first direction, the first direction being the direction in which the pair of the side walls face one another, the shaft portion including a shaft support portion and engaging with an end portion on a second direction side of an elastic member, the second direction being a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion and orthogonal to the first direction, the shaft support portion being a gear that is coaxial with the shaft portion and that projects toward the pair of the side walls, the elastic member extending in the second direction and being energized to generate a restorative force in a third direction, the third direction being the opposite direction from the second direction, and the shaft portion being configured to be moved in the third direction by an energizing force of the elastic member; and 
 a first support portion provided on at least one of the pair of the side walls, the first support portion extending in the second direction, the first support portion being configured to support the shaft support portion, the first support portion being a rack, the rack having a plurality of teeth along the second direction, the plurality of teeth being configured to engage with the shaft support portion. 
 
     
     
       15. A cartridge case comprising:
 a case body provided with a bottom wall, a support portion, and a pair of side walls, the bottom wall being configured to support a liquid-holding container containing a liquid, the bottom wall having a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of the bottom wall, the support portion being provided in the first end portion and configured to support a hollow vent plug provided in the liquid-holding container, and the pair of the side walls facing one another from opposite sides of the bottom wall; 
 a shaft portion extending in a first direction, the first direction being the direction in which the pair of the side walls face one another, the shaft portion including a shaft support portion and engaging with an end portion on a second direction side of an elastic member, the second direction being a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion and orthogonal to the first direction, the shaft support portion being coaxial with the shaft portion and projecting toward the pair of the side walls, the elastic member extending in the second direction and being energized to generate a restorative force in a third direction, the third direction being the opposite direction from the second direction, and the shaft portion being configured to be moved in the third direction by an energizing force of the elastic member; 
 a first support portion provided on at least one of the pair of the side walls, the first support portion extending in the second direction and being configured to support the shaft support portion; and 
 a first anti-slip member provided in the bottom wall, the first anti-slip member being configured to support the liquid-holding container along the second direction. 
 
     
     
       16. The cartridge case according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a case cover having a top wall, the top wall being opposite the bottom wall; and 
 a second anti-slip member provided in the top wall, the second anti-slip member being disposed opposite the liquid-holding container along the second direction.